COLLEGE FOOTBALL
James Madison enters unbeaten with a four-game winning streak, scoring 179 points through four games while allowing only 49. The Dukes average 226.0 passing yards and 199.3 rushing yards per game, and their defense has held opponents to 12.3 points per game and 4.4 yards per play. Marshall comes in at 3-1 and has won three straight, but the overall profile is much less balanced: the Herd average 23.5 points per game and allow 32.5, while opponents are generating 296.3 passing yards and 450.8 total yards per game. James Madison’s efficiency edge on both sides of the ball gives it the cleaner scoring path.
James Madison should handle this game behind a major offensive efficiency edge and a defense that has been much harder to move the ball against than Marshall’s unit. The Dukes have been dominant in all four games, and Marshall’s defense has given up too many yards and too many points to trust in this spot. I project James Madison to win comfortably, 41-20, with the home side clearing its team total and the final score landing in a range that reflects the Dukes’ stronger overall profile.
